Floor lamp



Dec. 13, 1949 W. A. HILLENBRAND ET AL FLOOR LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1946 INVENTOR6 W a. 7%

.Dec. 13, 1949 w. A. HILLENBRAND ET AL 2,491,448

FLOOR LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

'lrllllllvllllill i I NJ INVENTOR'J Patented Dec. 13, 1949 FLOOR LAMP William A. Hillenbrand, Franklin County, and Francis J. Burst, Batesville, Ind., assignors to Hill-Rom Company, Inc., Batesville, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application December 10, 1946, Serial No. 715,326

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electric lighting fixtures and particularly to improvements in floor or pedestal lamps primarily for use in hospital or sick rooms.

The improvements are embodied in a floor lamp having a lighting fixture disposed at a convenient height above the sick bed. At the election of the patient the fixture may be converted selectively into a source of direct light or indirect light and is capable also of directional regulation.

Combination lampsproviding direct or indirect lighting, which are commercially available, commonly utilize several bulbs controlled by one or several switches or one bulb utilizing several filaments and variable wattage. However, these lamps are expensive, cumbersome, diflicult to control, and lack flexibility, since the adjustments are made in steps instead of being continuously adjustable from maximum to minimum.

A principal object of the invention has been to provide an inexpensive lamp of simplified design which may be regulated mechanically to provide the quality and direction of light desired, either direct, indirect or a combination of both, in a convenient manner. Thus, direct light may be trained upon the patient by the physician when making an examination, or the patient may adjust the lamp for direct light from a different angle for reading, or for indirect soft light when resting.

Another object has been to provide a hospital lamp which is constructed so as to reduce the danger of tipping over and which has conveniently accessible regulating means topermit the lamp to be controlled easily by a patient reclining in bed.

A further object has been the provision of a lamp which is readily taken apart or assembled to facilitate replacement of worn or damaged parts, and which consequently can be shipped in knock-down condition for convenient assembly by the maintenance personnel at the hospital.

Still another object has been to provide a centralized switch control unit mounted on the lamp standard at a height convenient to a patient in a relaxed position and furnishing a service outlet for bedside electrical equipment and also a night lamp which is not disturbing to the patient.

Briefly the concept of the present invention is to provide a lamp having a single intensity bulb with a reflecting shade and a shield element, both elements being independently rotatable on a center common to each other and to the bulb. to

permit regulation of light intensity and direction in a simple convenient manner.

The shield is free to swing from an indirect lighting position beneath the bulbto a direct lighting position above the bulb, thereby permitting the light to be varied in all degrees from brilliant direct lighting to difiused indirect lighting by mechanical means other than switches. Directional control is accomplished by swinging both elements as a unit in an are on the same common center, whereby the light intensity is unchanged but its direction regulated. Also, the vertical standard of the lamp is rotatable on its axis to swing the lighting fixture bodily in a horizontal arc toward or away from the bed.

Other objects and advantages will be more clearly set forth in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the improved lamp.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the construction of the adjustable shade and shield elements of the lighting fixture.

Figure 3 is an exploded view further illustrating the construction of the shade and shield.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the light bulb and shade support parts in assembled relationship. The arrow indicates the direction in which element. is to be moved to form the complete assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, for example.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 3. 1

Figure 6' is an enlarged fragmentary view of the shade as viewed endwise, and illustrating the directional adjustment thereof.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line- 'l--'I, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the control unit in which is mounted the several control switches, convenience outlet, and a night lamp, the casing being mounted directly below the lighting fixture as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9- -9 Figure 8, further illustrating the construction of the control unit. 1

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary v ew illustrating the manner of pivotally mounting the lamp standard in its base.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the lamp base as viewed from the bottom thereof further illustrating the construction of the base and standard.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, the improved lamp consists of a base preferably of circular configuration, and of sufficient weight to support the lamp safely. The base may be formed of metal and includes a central bearing It in which is rotatably mounted a tubular standard I I, extending vertically from the base to a height sufiicient to sustain the lamp fixture 19 at a .convenient elevation above a hospital bed. Somewhat below the lighting fixture i9, is mounted a control unit in which is mounted a night lamp, a switch for controlling the night lamp, a switch for controlling thelighting, fixture 15,.

and also a service outlet for supplying current to a bed side accessory such as a radio or a heating pad.

At the lower end of the vertical standardll. slightly above the base is located an aperture 22 into which is extended a lead-wire or lamp cord 23 for supplying current to the lamp. This apertWfdxiFigure 1.0,) includes a rubber grommet -24 for insulating the ;cord.23 vfrom the standard ll. The-\oab1e23 passesupwardly through thetubular standard or column 1?, and is appropriately connected to the several switches, night lamp and outletreceptacle. It isthen extended upwardly tothe lighting fixture, as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the base I5 is designed to permit rotation of the standard 57 man arc 'of approximately 180. Described in detail. thestandard i'liimmediately above the base, consists of apair of tubes 26 and 21, the tube 2'! being telescopically engaged on the tube 26. The tube Zllextends upwardly and terminates inside the cont-rolunit or switch housing 2%. This tube forms a spacer andprovides a bearing support forlthe standard, the lower end of the tube being in bearing contact with the upper surface of the bearing l6 as at 29. The inner tube 26 passes through the bore 30 of bearing 16. Bearing 15 includes a downwardly extended hub 31 to give additional stability to the standard 11. The lower endof tube 26"extends below the edge of flange 3| and is provided with pin 32 which extends crosswise through the tube 26 to retain or lock of the'c'ross 'pin 32 so that rotation of the upright lsli niited approximately to ahalf revolution as h wn nFisure ll.

The lighting-fixture I9 in general comprises a concave reflecting shade 31 disposed in a horizontal planega'bulb shield 38 substantially smaller than'the'sh'adegand a lamp socket 39 carrying a light bulb 40. These assembled components are secured tothe upper end of the lamp standard,

thelamp socket and bulb being non-rotatably moun ted. while the shade 31 and the shield 38 arerotatamy mounted and may be shifted in an arc with respect to each other. The fixture is. designed to permit the shade and shield to remix/e360? right: or left without twisting of the lamp'cordand socket or base 39. V

Shade 37 is latched in its selected position by adetent mechanism. The shield element 38 independently adjustable with respectto the shade, which permits the fixture to be adjusted 4 for direct or indirect lighting. The lamp socket, shade, and the shield are mounted in axial alignment, the shade and shield being movable rotatably in an arc from a center common to each other and to the lamp socket.

Described in detail the upper end of the housing is provided with a cylindrical sleeve J12, welded or otherwise secured to the tube 2a End closure plates 43 and 44 are secured Within the opposite ends of the sleeve by Welding or other means, the

plate 43 serving as a closure and the plate 44 provides a support for a fixed horizontally disposed hollow socket support 45 upon which is pivotally mounted the lamp shade 31. as hereinafter described.

The shade 31 includes a sleeve 41 welded or otherwisefastened thereto. The sleeve 41 has at its outer end a circular bearing hub or collar 48 which serves as the detent carrier and the manipulating means for the shade. The collar 48 includes its bore a bearing bushing or spacer 49 which in turn rctatably engages the socket support 45. Sleeve 41 is secured to the bearing collar 48 by means of several screws 50 spaced around the circumference of the sleeve and "screw thr'eaded engagement with respective tapped holes in plate 48.

As shown in Figure 5 the end closure plate 4 4 provided with a series of detent notch'es '53 disposed in a circular path, in the present instance being sixteen in number. A spring pressed ba'llj54 iscarried by the bearing collar orh u b48 in a bdre formed therein. A spring 56, compressed be hind the'ball, urges the ball into the detents', thus latching the plate against fr'ee rotation with reg spect to the stationaryclosur'e plate; A hand, lever 58'iss'ecured to the plate 48min radial bore 59 therein bymeans'of a cross'pin 15-0,

The bearing hub or collar [48 is'retained inplace in the support 45 by means o f alnut 'BZ'en'g'aged in thescrew threaded end 6'3 'of the' journ'al. A Washer 64 is disposed 'between the collar .48 and; the nut 62; and a set screw 65 isfurther provided. to lock the nut in its adjusted position. 4

The lamp socket '35 includes [a threaded ring 66 forming a part of the socket, which is screwed upon the threaded end 630i the journal, inthe conventional manner; It willbe apparent therefore that the lampshade'jfl isvrotatably mounted upon the support '45 and maybe adjustedgan' gularly by actuation of the .hand ..-lever' I'5'll.- as shown'in Figure 6'. The lampsockcthowe'veii re mains stationary thereby avoidin twisting and wear ofv that portion EBIof .lamp cord. 23 which passes from, the lamp. socket through. theldollow. support 45intothetube2B.

On the top .of the shade 3'! is provided a ventilator cap .12 .locked in position by means 01 53 tangs'l3 bent .back toward/the inner-surface of.

the shadeas shown in Figure 2..- The ventilator.

providesa series of slots 14 between the cap and the shade for the escape ,of. heat from. the "light bulb. A reflector coating, 'preferablyl'of white,

is' applied to theinterior surface 15 of' the shade The shield 33 is disposed within ,thejconfinesof. therefle'ctor 31. Thelnner end of the reflector has a neck portion oi. reduced diameter as indicated at Tl. On the end of the neck is pro vided a mounting ring'18' whichfits rotatively within theendof'the lamp shade'sleeve' 41:. 'At the opposite end; of the reflector is provided a secured to the reflector by means erase -aw 81.: The opposite end'of the 'rodi's journalld in a disc 82, which disc is secured within a circular hub 84 secured to the lamp shade 31. The extended end of the rod carries an adjusting knob 85 formed preferably of heat insulating plastic which is secured to the rod by a set screw 86. The purpose of this knob is to allow the patient to adjust the reflector from a reclining position, the heat resistant plastic preventing heat from being transmitted to the fingers. A knob 81 of a similar plastic material is mounted on the lower end of the lever 58.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the shade element and the shield are individually adjustable with respect to each other and with respect to the stationary socket and a bulb. The selected directional adjustment of the shade is maintained by the detent plate 44 so that the light intensity may be varied by adjustment of the shield 38 without changing or disturbing the position of the shade. However the ring 18 is fitted to provide a slight degree of friction between sleeve 47 and shield 38 sufiicient to cause the shield to follow the angular adjustments of the lamp shade. Therefore, the shield may be adjusted to a desired light intensity by adjustment of knob 85 and the knob 87 can then be actuated to change the direction of the light without disturbing the setting of the shield. Also the resistance of ring 18 maintains the shield in a selected angular position even though it may tend to return to the full shield position of Figure 2 from a position with the shield element above the light bulb.

Since both the shield and the lamp shade may be rotated in a complete circle, the organization permits any variation of light intensity from maximum direct lighting to minimum indirect or diffused lighting. Thus, to illustrate two extreme positions, the shield element 38 may be turned to a position above the bulb to cause the light to be trained directly upon the patient, for example, by the physician in making an examination, and on the other extreme, the shade 31 may be turned to a position to train the light toward the ceiling with the shield 38 positioned above the lamp bulb, thus providing difiused lighting of minimum intensity. In addition to the adjustments for direction and intensity a further adjustment may be had by rotating the standard I! upon its base thereby moving the lighting fixture bodily toward or away from the bed.

The lamp cord 23 extends through the upright tube 25 and passes into the switch housing 2t through a lateral opening 90 provided in the tube. The cord branches to the main switch 9| in the usual manner to control the flow of current to the light bulb 40. A branch line likewise is extended to the night lamp switch 92 for control of the night lamp 93. Connections are made to the service outlet plug 94 in an appropriate manner to provide for a supply of current to operate bedside accessories, the outlet being of the conventional style adapted to receive the plug in terminal of the standard lamp cord. The wiring of the switches, night lamp, and outlet plug is omitted from the drawings since it follows current practice and is immaterial to an understanding of the invention.

The housing 20 in which the several components are mounted, comprises a pair of complementary shells 95 and 96 fitted about the standard sections 26 and 21. The respective shells are secured to the vertical arms of bracket 91 by means of screws 98, the bracket 91 in turn being secured to the tube 26 of standard l1 preferably by welding. The light bulb 93 is secured in a socket 93a depending from a horizontal arm 91a of the bracket 91. Toward the curved lower portion of shell is provided a series of openings or louvers I00, which openings are disposed adjacent the lower portion of the night lamp 93 to train the light rays from the lamp downwardly toward the floor. By virtue of the rotatable mounting of the lamp standard, it may be rotated to cause the light to fall upon any desired floor area about the lamp base. Likewise the rotatable mounting permits the standard to be turned to a position for convenient operation of the switches by the patient and to present the outlet in a position for a convenient utility.

The lamp assembly is designed to be shipped in a knockdown condition and may be assembled readily by the maintenance personnel of the hospital. The various components are interchangeable and therefore should a part become worn or broken it may be replaced conveniently.

Although designed primarily as a pedestal or floor lamp for hospital use, it is contemplated to utilize the adjustable shade and shield assembly l9 also for table and desk lamps and for other lighting purposes. The organization may be incorporated in such lamps merely by substituting a short upright for the long upright ll herein disclosed, and substituting instead a base appropriate to the intended use of the lamp.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A reading lamp comprising a socket support adapted to be mounted in horizontal position, an electric light socket mounted on the outer end of said support, a concave lamp shade journalled to rotate about said support, said lamp shade adapted to intercept the light from an electric light bulb disposed in said socket and reflect it in a beam suitable for reading, and a bulb shield mounted in said shade to rotate on the axis of the socket, said bulb shield substantially smaller than the shade and adapted to be rotatably positioned to intercept the direct light from the bulb to reflect it against the shade for indirect lighting or to direct it away from the shade for direct lighting.

2. A reading lamp comprising a socket support adapted to be mounted in horizontal position, an electric light socket mounted on the outer end of said support, a sleeve surrounding said socket and journalled to rotate about said support, a concave lamp shade mounted on said sleeve and adapted to intercept the light from an electric light bulb disposed in said socket and reflect it in a beam suitable for reading, and a bulb shield journalled in the outer end of said sleeve, said bulb shield substantially smaller than the shade and adapted to be positioned by rotation within the shade to intercept the direct light from the bulb to reflect it against the shade for indirect lighting or to direct it away from the shade for direct lighting.

3. A reading lamp comprising a socket support adapted to be mounted in horizontal position, an electric light socket mounted on the outer end of said support, a sleeve surrounding said socket and journalled to rotate about said support, a concave lamp shade mounted on said sleeve and adapted to intercept the light from an electric light bulb disposed in said socket and reflect it in a beam suitable for reading, a handle connected to said sleeve for rotative adjustment of said sleeve and said shade, a bulb shield journalled in the outer end of said sleeve, said bulb shield substantially smallerthan the shade and 'ada ptedto berotatably positioned within the shade-to intercept the direct light fromthe bulbito reflect-it against the shade for indirect lighting or to direct it away, from theshade for direct lighting; asrod extending from the bulb shield along the axis-bf the socket beyond the shade, ,andmeans disposed on the outer endof said rod for rotating thebulb shield.

4. Areading lamp comprising a socketisupport adapted to be mounted in thorizontal;position',an electric light socket mounted-on the :outerg-end 70f saidsupport,,a concave lamp shade journalled to rotate about said support, said lamp ,shade adapted to interceptthe light from an electric light bulb disposed in said socket and reflectzit in a beam suitable for reading, a bulb. shield mounted in said shade to rotateawith it ongrotae tion of said shade, said bulb shield substantially smaller than the shade, means attachedjto said bulb shield for rota-tingsaid bulb shieldanda latching mechanism for impeding rotation of said shade relative to said support, whereby said bulb shield may be rotatably positioned independently of said shade to intercept the direct light from the bulb to reflect it against the shade for indirect lighting or to direct it away from the shade ior direct lighting.

WILLIAM A; HILLENBRAND. FRANCIS J. BURST.

GESi CITED;

The following references are of record in. the file oi'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,112,306 Mahan Sept. 29, 1914 11188240 Borden June 20,- 1916 117281302 Namet et'al Sept. 1'7, 1929 1,7'7-8g429 Gerschefs'ki Oct; 14; 1930 1,966,485 Chanock 51115717, 1934 2,075,199 Horner Mar. 30, 1937 2,138,373 Doa-ne Nov. 29, 1938 2,156,617 Calissi May 2, 1939 2,199,107 Kibbe Apr. '30, 1940 2,220,215 Cloutier Nov. 5, 1940 2,226,222 Doane Dec.- 24,1940 2,258,198 Cal-issi Oct. 7, 1941 2,297,144 Gould Sept129; 1942 2,321,488 Hughes June 8, 194 3 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 790,581 France Sept. 9, 1935 Certificate of Correction December 13, 1949 WILLIAM A. HILLENBRAND ET AL. 7

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, list of references cited, under the heading "UNITED STATES PATENTS add the following- 2,307,977 Wellman- .Jan. 12, 1943 and that the said Letters Patent'should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of April, A. D. 1950.

Patent No. 2,491,448

THOMAS F. MURPHY, 7

Accident aommiuioner of Paton. 

